Former President Gotabaya Rajapakse, who fled the country after thousands of protesters stormed the presidential palace in response to the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, has returned home after seven weeks.
According to Associated Press, former President Gotabaya Rajapakse landed at Colombo International Airport from Bangkok between Friday and Saturday, where he was received by party members.
From the airport, Gotabaya Rajapakse was escorted by armed soldiers to the official residence in the capital city of Colombo, which has been reserved for him as a former president.
Even after the former president fled the country, protesters remained at the presidential palace and celebrated after the news of his resignation.
It should be noted that there is no pending court case or arrest warrant against the former president. The only court case filed against him for alleged corruption as defense secretary was withdrawn after he was elected president in 2019 due to constitutional immunity.
Sri Lanka has been in the grip of the worst economic crisis for several months, in response to which a series of unprecedented protests are continuing across the country.
Gotabaya Rajapakse and his family are blamed for the economic crisis in the bankrupt country of Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan government had declared itself bankrupt due to its foreign debts of 51 billion dollars. Of the total debt, Sri Lanka has to repay $27 billion by 2027.
Acting President Ranil Wickramasinghe imposed emergency in the country after the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapakse, but he was elected as the President by voting in the Parliament on 20 July.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday agreed to provide a $2.9 billion bailout package to support Sri Lanka's economy.
"Sri Lanka is facing a serious crisis," the IMF said in a statement after nine days of talks in the capital, Colombo. The new program for Sri Lanka is aimed at restoring economic stability and debt sustainability.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe this week announced more tax hikes and sweeping reforms in an effort to control debt.
His government has already more than tripled fuel and electricity prices and scrapped energy subsidies, a key condition for an IMF bailout.
Sri Lanka is unable to import even essential goods due to lack of foreign exchange reserves.
